Missing Clovis inmate captured

August 19, 2006

CNJ staff

A Curry County inmate who disappeared while on medical furlough more than seven weeks ago was captured by a local bail bondsman Friday night and returned to jail.

Christina Snell of Hanks Bail Bonds said she spotted Phillip Littlefield riding in a car in the area of 14th and Prince streets around 6 p.m Friday. She followed him to a residence in the 1400 block of Lea Street where he was later taken into custody and turned over to police, she said.

Littlefield, 36, was transported to the Curry County Adult Detention Center by police around 7 p.m., Snell said.

According to the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s office, Littlefield had been missing for more than five weeks before jail officials informed the court he was unaccounted for. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest Aug. 4 by District Court Judge Stephen Quinn.

Littlefield was released June 22 to have surgery in Lubbock, according to court records. Under the conditions of the furlough, he was to return to jail immediately following his medical procedure.

Jail administrator Leslie Johnson said jail officials later discovered Littlefield never went to his appointment.

Johnson cited a manual accounting system as the reason Littlefield’s absence went undetected for more than five weeks and said court officials were notified as soon as his absence was realized.